Joseph m



(No Model.) v

J. M. BROHARD.

noon 011301;. 7 N0. 391,682. Patented Oct. 23, 1888.

UNITED warns arnnvr rrrcn.

DOOR-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,682, dated Qetober 231, 1888.

Application filed March 1, 1888. Serial No. 265,858. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPI-I M. BROHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olarksburg, in the county of Harrison and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door Checks and Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for holding an opened door in any desired position, so as to prevent it from being closed or thrown back against the wall by the wind; and the novelty consists in a lever having a pivotal connection with the lower part of a door, on one side thereof, and provided at one end with an elastic surface adapted to bear on the floor and hold the door securely when that end of said lever is depressed, and a spring contracting lengthwise and having one end connected with the door and its other end attached to the operating end of the lever for the purpose of holding said lever either horizontally in an inoperative position or at an angle with one end bearing on the floor to secure the door, the construction being such that when one end of the lever engages the door its opposite end is in such position that a person can conveniently use one foot to depress the raised end of the lever, and thereby release the door without the necessity of stooping down and using the hands for that purpose, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I

In the an nexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view representing my improved door-holder in operative position to secure a partly-opened door. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lower part of a door with the holding device thrown into a horizontal position, whereby it is rendered inoperative. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lever detached. Fig. 4 is a view of a plate for supporting the lever, and provided with a pin or stud for attachment of one end of a spiral spring, the other end of which is engaged with the operating end of the lever.

The numeral 1 designates a door to the lower part of which, on one side, is attached the holding device, which consists, essentially, of a lever, 2, having a pivotal connection with the door, and a lengthwisecontracting spring,'3,

for holding said lever in the position to which it may be adjusted.

In the construction shown a plate, 4, is secured to the door by screws orotherwise for the purpose of providing a suitable support for the lever 2, which may be pivoted on one of the screws that hold said plate in place. This plate is provided at or near one end with a pin or stud, 5, for attachment of one end of the spiral spring 3, by which the lever 2 is held in either a horizontal or an inclined position.

Onone side of the lever 2, midwayits length, is a segmental lug, 6, that is perforated for passage of a screw, 7, on which the lever turns, said screw being also passed through the plate 4 to assist in fastening it to the door. The opposite side or edge of the lever may be formed with a flange, 8, which partly conceals the spiral spring 3 when the lever is in a horizontal position.

On the under side of the lever 2, near its outer end, is formed a transverse lug or shoulder, 9, and beneath the outer end of the lever is placed a block of india-rubber or suitable elastic material, 10, which hasa bearing against the shoulder 9 and under surface of the lever. This elastic block 10 may be beveled on its outer surface, as shown, to secure a more perfect bearing on the floor, and it can be secured in place by any suitable means. As shown, the outer end of the lever is provided with two openings, 11 and 12, separated by a short bar, 13, a wire, 14, being passed through the outermost opening, 11, and around the elastic block 10 to hold said block in place.

One end of the spiral spring 3 is provided with a hook, 1,5, that is passed from beneath through the opening 12 and over the bar 13, being thus engaged therewith. On the other end of this spiral spring is a loop, 16, that en gages the pin or stud 5 on the attaching-plate.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. By pressing down the inner end of the lever 2 adjacent to the stud 5 the lever will be brought into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, where it will be held by the lcngthwiseretracting force of the spiral spring and will remain inoperative, so as to enable the door to be opened or closed without hinderance. \Vhen the door is partly or wholly opened, it can be held in such position by pressing down the outer end of the lever, as

shown in Fig. 1, so as to bring the elastic block 10 into frictional contact with the floor, the spiral spring 3 contracting so as to exert a pressure on the outer end of the lever that will hold the elastic block 10 in firm contact with the floor and prevent the door from being moved by sudden gusts of wind.

It will be observed that in my construction the lengthwise-contracting spring and lever are so arranged that a person can use a foot both to press down the end of the lever carrying the elastic block to engage the floor and to press down the opposite end of the lever to release the door, whereby I avoid the necessity of stooping down to operate the doorholder by hand. It will also be observed that the spring in my construction is so arranged that when the lever is horizontal the spring stands horizontal, with its longitudinal axis above the center of the pivot-pin 7, whereby the rear end of the lever, or what I will term the rear end, is held down upon the pin 5, and the lever thereby held in a horizontal position, or approximately so, to keep its elastic block from the floor. By this invention I avoid the necessity of using the vertical arms and cross-pin for the attachment of a vertically-arranged coil-spring, as in a prior device of this kind.

WVhat I claim is- 1. A door-check consisting of the plate 4, having at one end a laterally projecting pin, 5, the lever 2, turning on a pivot located between its ends and when in a horizontal position adapted to bear at one end upon the lateral pin, and having at its opposite end an elastic bearing, 10, and the lengthwise-contracting spring 3, having one end secured to the lateral pin and the other end secured to the lever between its pivot-pin and the elastic bearing, substantially as shown and described.

2. A door-check consisting of the plate 4, having at one end the lateral pin 5, the lever 2, having the lug 6 and turning on a pivot located between its ends, and provided at one end with the elastic cushion 10, and the spring 3, having one end secured to the lateral pin and the other end secured to a bar, 13, on the lever adjacent to the elastic cushion and between said cushion and the pivot of the lever, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I atfix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

' J OS. M. BROHARD.

Witnesses:

J. A. RUTHERFORD, J 0s. L. CooMns. 

